By Jessica Villagomez
A local organization is working to increase the labor force in some of the nation’s fastest growing trades. HIRE360, a Near South-based nonprofit, is partnering with several organizations across the city with hopes of diversifying fields such as construction and pipefitting, said Jay Rowell, HIRE360’s executive director.
The organization connects young adults and underrepresented populations with job opportunities in trades.
“These are life changing careers that have great pay, healthcare, and a pension,” Rowell said. “It’s a rewarding job to help build a building or bridge.”
Construction projects
With growing numbers of construction projects throughout Chicago, including the Chicago Transit Authority Red Line CTA expansion, trained professionals are needed now more than ever, Rowell added.
In addition to the construction industry, some of the larger trade unions the organization works with include laborers, carpenters, electricians, and pipe fitters.
To attract future trade workers, the organization focuses on youth engagement to expose young people to potential careers in the trades.
“A lot of people go to college and pay a lot of money,” Rowell said. “The vast majority of apprenticeship opportunities pay you to learn.”
The average age to enter a construction apprenticeship is about 27, he said. Trade unions hope to see the starting age go down, so they can begin training the next generation of trade workers earlier in their careers.
“These are hard jobs and are really physically demanding,” he said. “The point around our youth engagement work is to get more interest from high school grads in these careers to start along the path a little earlier.”
Mario Grady, 27, a first-year apprentice in Pipefitters Local 597, said he wished he would have learned of trade career options earlier in his life so he could have started his career earlier, rather than working a series of other jobs. Grady said he first learned about pipefitting through a family member while he worked as a pharmacy technician delivering medicine to nursing homes.
“I was thinking about what I wanted to do with my future … I didn’t know that I started late until I started,” he said. “I do wish I started earlier,” adding that other apprentices “are 23, and they’ll be journeyman making top scale, they have a good start. But later is better than never.”
Though Grady was the oldest in his program, he welcomed the new challenge. To become a pipefitter, he participated in a hybrid program doing welding that led to an unpaid five-month pre-apprenticeship program. He must complete a five-year apprenticeship before earning his journeyman card. At that point, he said he can choose his own work.
Financial stipends
For those seeking a career change, HIRE360 provides financial stipends to allow people like Grady to work unpaid programs. Grady was one who earned a stipend.
Though becoming a journeyman is a journey of its own, the wait is worth it, Grady said. The hourly rate for a first-year apprentice starts anywhere from $20 to $22 but can double after the five-year mark. He hopes to make upwards of $60/hour after completing his apprenticeship. The rate does not include pension or healthcare benefits either, which also are available, Rowell said.
“Every day that I show up it’s something different, which I like,” Grady said. “The best part is that it’s not the same thing every day. I’m learning something new every day. It’s pretty fulfilling to show up to a site and we see it go from nothing to the finished product.
“I would recommend HIRE360 to everyone,” Grady said. “They helped me through dire financial times, reimbursed me for my first union dues payment, and mentored me to navigate my way through my new career.”
HIRE360 hopes to broaden its reach across different trade unions including work in the clean energy sector.
Visit Hire360chicago.com to learn more about careers and opportunities. HIRE360 is located at 2301 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago Pipefitters Local 597 is at 45 N. Ogden Ave. Log on to www.pf597.org.